USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1909 > Part 2
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23 Cotton cloth 7 96
May 18 E. C. Parker, 1 ton fertilizer. 30 00
2:2 Chemicals
35
July 8 Levi A. Brown, salary to July 87 50
Sept. 7 1 stove 13 32
Oct. 5
Levi A. Brown, salary to Oct. 1. 87 50
15 6 barrels
9 00
1909.
Jan. 1 Levi A. Brown, salary to Jan. 1 87 50
Feb. 20 James Wixtead
112 05
E. N. Jenckes 137 57
$647 75
REPAIRS AT ALMSHOUSE AND BARN.
1908.
June 20 B. A. Stockwell, labor $42 11
July 11 Wright and Keith, labor 2 00
28 Frank E. Smith, labor 11 50
Sept. 3 W. R. Wallis, Lumber 22 39
28 Frank Rawson 5 65
Oct. 15
E. A. Gove 3 50
Telephone 25
W. R. Wallis, shingles
13 72
$101 12
SUMMARY.
Superintendent has paid for supplies as per this report. . $476 68 Overseers have paid out as per report 647 75
$1,124 43
Superintendent. for labor, produce and board 493 98
$630 45
29
Increase as per inventory . $33 24
Cost of support of poor at almshouse for this year. $597 21 Number of weeks board of poor, 90.
Cost per week, $6.63.
Inmates at almshouse, March 1, 1909.
James J. Murry, age 79; Joseph Jenny, died Dec. 4, 1908, age 84.
OUTSIDE POOR.
Sylvia Wakefield
$60 00
Mrs. Margaret Duprey
48 00
Mrs. George Casey
51 00
Mrs. Bessie Burke .
19 50
Annie Emmons
14 00
William Prince
84 80
Joseph P. Casey
8 50
Eliza Roberts
71 70
Peter La Vallier
20 00
Charles H. Hilton
10 76
Mary Maynard
25 00
Mary E. Murry
7 50
$420 76
Poor of Northbridge, Rose La Vallie
$10 00
Due from Fall River, Catherine Boucher .
$30 75
66 " Frederick Boucher 12 51
66
66 Mrs. Mary Boucher Normandau 37 53
Due from Adams, Agnes Fisher .
7 50
Due from Sutton, William B. Metcalf
5 00
STATE POOR.
Mike Ricci .
$25 90
John D. Stenis
6 00
Edward C. Sugdan
21 00
Mike Brelanski
1 40
$54 30
30
Due from state, Mrs. Muna Oleo $2 00
LOCK-UP ACCOUNT.
William Herendeen, care of lock- up from March 1, 1908 to Mar. 1,1909
$25 00
W. A. Scribner, pails 1 00
Oil 13
$26 13
Number of tramps for year, 0.
MISCELLANEOUS ACCOUNT.
1908.
Mar. 3 Advertising
$1 25
9 Edwin T. Rawson 75
Expense to Pascoag 1 50
Apr.
2 Expense James Murry 75
9 Postage stamps
1 00
18 Mike Ricci and family, State Hos- pital
9 93
May 15 Expense to Uxbridge
1 50
19 John D. Stenis
1 25
20 Team.
75
22
Expense to Oxford
2 00
July 8 Pauper case
1 25
11 Frederick Allen, aid
1 50
20 Telephoning
25
To Boston, pauper case
2 50
Aug. 28
Pauper case.
1 35
Postage stamps.
1 78
Uxbridge pauper case
1 50
Oct.
21 Margaret Burke. 1 00
23 Webster pauper case 1 75
Dec. 9 James Elvin 3 00
Team 75
29 To Sutton, pauper case 1 50
E. T. Rawson 3 00
31
1909.
Jan.
5 Kanol Hanak, State Hospital $ 5 45
Joseph Jenney, burial 22 00
7 Charles Slyan 75
29 Book 60
Feb. 20 D. B. Needham 1 00
Team 1 00
Team
2 25
$74 86
AMOUNT RECEIVED FOR SUPPORT OF POOR.
1908.
Mar. Cash on hand $4 04
Received from Town Treasurer. 1,150 00
Apr. 9 Received of Frank Amadon 5 00
July 28 Received of Frank E. Smith . 7 61
Dec. 3 Received of Town of Northbridge 10 00
1909.
Jan. 2 Received from William H. Emer- son, conservator for Ellen M. Leach care from Jan. 4, 1907 to Jan. 2, 1908 147 27
25 Received from William H. Emer- son, conservator for Ellen M. Leach care Jan. 2, 1908, to March 1, 1908 22 77
Received from State by town treasurer .
91 05
$1,437 74
RECAPITULATION.
Paid on account of poor at almshouse $647 75
Outside poor 420 76
State poor 54 30
Poor of Fall River 80 79
Poor of Adams 7 50
32
Poor of Sutton .
$ 5 00
Poor of Northbridge 10 00
Lock-up. 26 13
Miscellaneous
74 86
Due from State
2 00
Repairs on almshouse
101 12
Cash on hand
7 53
$1,437 74
The Overseers have received for their services :
Henry D. Mowry . .
$100 00
E. T. Rawson . 25 00
Orlan T. Chase
25 00
HENRY D. MOWRY, Overseers EDWIN T. RAWSON, of
ORLAN F. CHASE, Poor.
I have examined the accounts of the Overseers of the Poor and find them correct.
W. H. COOK, Auditor.
33
Annual Report of WILLIE R. WALLIS, Agent
ON THE
Devise of Moses Wallis
TO TOWN OF DOUGLAS,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1909.
The Agent has charged himself with amounts due the town March 1, 1909, as follows :
Notes due the town .
$4,832 55
Accrued interest on notes .
294 19
Deposited Rhode Island Hospital Trust Co. and interest. 26,639 99
Cash in hands of Agent. 219 50
$31,986 23
1908.
Mar. 1 Cash in hands of Agent. $219 50
27 Salina Casey
30 00
27 John Vallier
18 00
Apr. 1 Mary A. Reynolds .
15 00
July 1 Mary A. Reynolds
104 31
Sept. 25 E. M. Southwick 30 00
26 John D. Darling 20 00
34
Oct. 13 Vesta H. Balcome
$ 7 50
19 Potter M. Bates 9 00
Nov. 9 Emma J. Brown 10 00
18 John D. Darling 10 12
. 1909.
Feb. 20 Susan V. Thayer
22 00
Frank Duval. 39 00
22 Salina Casey . 30 00
David and Amos Lunn 30 00
26 Joseph T. Arnold.
12 00
27 Charles F. Rawson 12 00
Emma J. Brown. 17 00
Susan V. Thayer
3 00
Mar. 1 Phebe Young . 30 00
$638 43
The Agent has paid out as follows : 1908.
Mar. 28 Deposited Rhode Island Hospi- tal Trust Co. .
$267 50
July 1 Discharge of mortgage. 25
17 Deposited Rhode Island Hospi- tal Trust Co
119 31
Nov. 18
Discharge of mortgage
25
1909.
Mar. 1 Agent care of Devise.
75 00
$462 31
NOTES DUE THE TOWN MARCH 1, 1909.
Maker of Note
Paid by
Accrued Int.
Principal
Joseph T. Arnold
Arthur L. Putnam
$200 00
Preserved Alger
Russell H. Baton
$12 00
100 00
Emma J. Brown
13 13
150 00
Vesta H. Balcome
Wellington Balcome
3 64
125 00
Potter M. Bates
John C. F. Bates
3 35
150 00
Salina Casey
Ordeal Casey, admr.
3 30
500 00
35
Maker of Note. Paid by
Accrued Int.
Principal
Frank Duval
$ 8 02
$125 00
Frank Duval
20 65
300 00
Joel Glover
Sarah Duffo
14 30
200 00
David and Amos Lunn David Lunn
10 33
500 00
Charles F. Rawson
21 30
200 00
Mary A. Reynolds
9 30
250 00
Edward M. Southwick
William H. Evans
17 00
500 00
Susan V. Thayer
58 42
500 00
John Vallier
Agnes Gauvin
18 45
300 00
Maria C. Wood
10 75
100 00
Phebe Young
35 75
500 00
$259 69
$4,700 00
RECAPITULATION.
1908.
Mar. 1 Cash in hands of Agent . . . $75 50
Cash received during the year . . 448 93
$668 43
Cash paid out during the year . .
$75 50
Deposited R. I. H. Trust Co. .
386 81
Cash in hands of Agent. ..
206 12
$668 43
1909.
Mar. 1 Notes due the town
$4,700 00
Accrued interest 259 96
Deposited R. I. H. Trust Co. . and interest to date 28,109 15
Cash in hands of Agent. 206 12
$33,274 96
Value of Devise March 1, 1908
31,986 83
Net gain for the year $1,288 13
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIE R. WALLIS, Agent.
-
36
REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR FOR 1908.
Douglas, March 1st, 1909.
The Assessors of Douglas for the year 1908 com- mitted to me the Collector's book with warrant to col- lect and pay over to the Treasurer of the said town of Douglas the sum of $20,108 26
I have collected and paid over to the Treasurer in cash, discounts and abatements the sum of 19,494 38
$613 88
Cash collected since March 1, 1909.
187 70
Leaving balance uncollected to March 1, 1909. . $426 18
Interest collected on taxes to March 1, 1909 . . $13 00
By vote of the town March 1902, the names of all delinquent tax payers are to be printed in the town report, and are as follows :
37
LIST OF DELINQUENT TAX PAYERS FOR 1908.
Jarvis Adams. $17 30
Mrs. Florence Ackert. . 2 29
Grosvenor Anderson 12 71
Herbert Ballou 31 84
Arthur Blaicher .
2 77
Heirs of Daniel Buffum. . 36 87
Alfred A. Casey 3 99
Rosa Casey. . 11 48
Sherman K. Foster 8 12
Ernest Gerard.
3 53
Chas. H. Hilton 2 00
Mrs. Chas. H. Hilton . . 77
Whitmore Irving 2 31
Wm. H. Lane
5 83
Mary Landry .
6 89
Mary Murphy .
7 65
John L. Olson . .
2 00
Wm. E. Pauquette.
2 00
Arthur H. Pauquette. . 2 00
John Pariseau 2 00
Peter J. Revord . 2 00
Joseph A. Richardson . . 43 84
Daniel Rogers
5 83
Est. Mary Rogers $1 91
Frank Revord 14 93
John Ring. 2 00
Heirs Willis Sherman. . 2 29
Harry A. Wilson 2 00
William Peters
8 89
Frank Smith,
8 89
Louis Normondeau.
13 32
D. Barber Zamanegian 25 18
NON-RESIDENTS.
Mrs. Belle H. Turner,
guardian G. H. Kelley $35 65
Edgar S. Hill 6 12
S. A. Inman 6 12
Milton Humes .
11 48
Mrs. Chas. Whitcomb. 4 59
Nathan M. Southwick .. 22 95
John J. Kelly .
2 00
David Livingstone . .
2 00
Willis W. and Lucius
Sherman
3 83
Respectfully submitted,
E. P. HEATH, Collector.
38
REPORT OF HIGHWAY SURVEYORS.
In this department the prices for labor, per hour, are : Sur- veyors, 20c ; 2 horses on cart, 20c; 1 horse on cart, 12Įc ; 2 horses on scraper, 30c; laborers, men 15c, boys 12}c; man driving scra- per 17Įc.
GUSTAVUS H. DUDLEY, District No. 1.
G. H. Dudley, 227 h $45 40
Two horses on cart,
231 h 46 20
Six horses on scraper, 20 h 18 00
4 horses on scraper, 45 h 27 00
Wm. H. Dudley, driver
on scraper, 45 h 7 87
Jim Blay driver on scra- per, 20 h 3 50
Raymond Dudley, 30 h 4 50
Two horses and cart, 30 h 6 00
Phill Manning, 30 h 4 50
Paul Manning, 10 h $ 1 50
Two horses and cart, 20 h 4 00
Alphonse Chase, 115 h 17 25
Ralph Putnam, 453 h 6 83 A. P. Dudley, 204 h 30 60
Jim Blay, 55 h 8 25
Walter Buxton, 95 h 14 25
John Metcalf, 115 h 17 25
John Deliany, 36 h 5 40
Wm. H. Dudley, 58 h
8 70
Edgar Sedan, 100 h 15 00
Fred Mathewson, 5 h 75
Wm. Metcalf, 15 h 2 25
John Daley, 33 h 4 95
1 horse and cart, 10 h 1 25 Fred Matherson, 15 h 3 00
39
Arthur Putnam, gravel,
120 loads $ 6 00
Paul Manning, 18 h 90
G. H. Dudley, 35 h 1 75
Frank Wellman, 8 h 40
John Daley, 8 h 1 20
Wm. Peat, 8 h 20
$313 25
$11 75
Feb. 17-18, 1909, cutting out highway.
G. H. Dudley, 10 h $ 2 00
1 horse, 10 h 1 25
U. I. PETERS, District No. 2.
U. I. Peters, 194 h $ 38 80
Team, 159 h 31 80
A. Roberts, 122 h 18 30
A. Humes, 40 h
6 00
C. Church, 5 h 75
O. Roberts, 138 h 20 70
R. Humes, 30 h 4 50
P. Bryant, 30 h 4 50
D. Roberts, 20 h 3 00
P. Dudley, 30 h 4 50
C. Dudley, 60 h 9 00
G. Burke, 30 h 4 50
G. Roberts, 40 h
6 00
U. I. Peters, 2 horses on
scraper, 30 h 9 00
G. Dudley, 4 horses on scraper, 30 h 18 00
H. A. Peters, 95 h 14 25
Holding scraper, 30 h 6 00
W. L. Church, 16 loads gravel 80
J. Forget, 5 loads gravel 25
O. J. Peters, 14 h 2 10
Manchaug blacksmith re-
pairing scraper 2 65
Mistake in last years ac-
count 60
Supplies 3 00
$209 00
Snow Roads in District No. 2.
U. I. Peters, 8 h $1 60
H. A. Peters, 8 h 1 20
C. Dudley, 8 h
20
U. I. Peters, 1 horse, 8 h
00
$5 00
Carting Stone on Causeway in District No. 2.
U. I. Peters, 80 h
$16 00
Team, 80 h
16 00
H. A. Peters, 80 h 12 00
D. Roberts, 80 h
12 00
A. Humes, 50 h 7 50
C. Dudley, 25 h
3 75
G. Roberts, 20 h
3 00
Team, 1 horse cart,
20 h
2 50
C. Dudley, 1 horse cart,
20 h
2 50
$75 25
.
O. S. Chase, 16 h $ 2 40
John Deliany, 10 h 50
Paul Manning, 8 h 20
1 horse, 8 h 1 00
40
LAFAYETTE TAFT, District No. 3.
Total. $274 47
ORLAN F. CHASE, District No. 4.
Orlan F. Chase, 181 h $36 20
Horses on cart, 35 h 7 00
26 ft. boards 65
Wm. Humphry, 35 h
5 25
Leroy Converse, 104 h 15 60 20 loads gravel 1 00
Elwin S. Chase, 81 h 12 15
Henry Chase, 39 h
5 85
A. E. Chapman, 68 h 10 20
Horses on cart, 35 h 7 00
Horses on cart, 12 h 2 40
Sewell E. Chase, 15 h 2 25
Alfred L. Parker, 17 h 2 55
Horses on cart, 35 h 7 00
Horses on cart, 15 h 3 00
75 loads gravel 3 75
H. T. Barton, 15 h 2 25
$155 05
WILLIE JARVIS, District No. 5.
Total . $100 50
F. J. KENYON, District No. 6.
F. J. Kenyon, 66 h $13 20
scraper, 20 h $6 00
1 horse, 51 h 5 60
116 h 23 20
2 horses, 96 h 16 10
gravel 60
John Dolbeer, 108 h 16 20
Mrs. Burlingame, 12 loads gravel 60
Roy Kenyon, 149 h 22 35
Myron Chase, 20 h
3 00
George Snow, 55 h 6 88
Charlie Maynard, 48 h 7 20
W. R. Wallis, 1 bush scythe 80
F. J. Kenyon, 5 h 1 00
1 horse, 8 h 80
Willie Kenyon, 8 h
1 20
David Lund, 9 h
1 35
2 horses on scraper, 20 h 6 00
Myron B. Chase, 59 loads gravel $2 95
38 loads gravel 1 90
Edrastus Chase, 35 h
5 25
Duty Caswell, 30 h
4 50
Myron B. Chase, 109 h 16 35
W. R. Wallis, 1 iron bar 1 28 Charlie Maynard, 12 loads
Benjamin Thompson, 11 loads gravel 55
F. J. Kenyon, 3 horses on scraper, 10 h 4 50 Fred Parker driving 4 hors- es, 20 h 3 50
F. J. Kenyon, 2 horses on $141 91
41
W. E. CARPENTER, District No. 7.
W. E. Carpenter, 232 h $46 40 Horse, cart and plough
190 h 23 75
112 loads gravel
5 60
Chestnut plank
1 48
O. Harvey, 2654 h
39 82
John Kelly, 140 h
21 00
Thomas Kelly, 30 h
4 50
St. Andre, 45 h
6 75
Horse and cart, 45 h 5 63
Ed. Carpenter, 175 h 26 25
$196 44
M. W. SOUTHWICK, District No. 8.
L. Buffum, 7 loads gravel $ 70
1
H. Hindon, 60 h
$ 9 00
C. Maynard, 14 loads
C. Maynard, 25 h
3 75
gravel 70
C. Lambert, 31 h
4 65
C. Stearns, 168 h
25 20
23 loads gravel
1 15
E. Stowe, 167 h
25 05
W. Martin, 56 h
8 40
D. Dudley, horses on cart,
116 h 23 20
M. Southwick, 260 h
52 00
J. Adams, 35 h
5 25
$192 92
PALMER CONVERSE, District No. 9.
Theodore Hall, 10 h $1 50
Robert Lunn, 30 h 4 50
Thomas Hodgkins, 10 h 1 50 John Nelson, 9 h 1 35
John McGrath, 40 h 6 00
Philip Bruley, horse and cart, 40 h 5 00
Frank Francis, 195 h 29 25
Joe Francis, 40 h 6 00
William Bruley, 50 h 7 50
Geo. Seymour, 70 h 10 50
Palmer Converse, 283 h 56 60 1 horse, 133 h 16 63
F. M. Draper, 10 h
$ 1 50
Oliver Roberts, 30 h 4 50
Palmer Converse, 2 horses
120 h 24 00
Dan Rogers, 30 h 4 50
Harry Pine, 32 h
56
Patrick Demody, 10 h 1 50
Mitchell Foster, 10 h 1 50
Henry Jarvis, driving scraper, 30 h 5 25
4 horses on scraper,
30 h
18 00
Smith Vickers, 5 hrs. labor
75
Dick Georgeson, 17 h
$ 2 55
Manchaug Co., 82 loads
of gravel
4 10
Olney Guesting, 9 loads
gravel
45
W.R. Wallis, 6 lbs. spikes
96" chestnut timber
2 61
H. N. Lougee, sharpen-
ing tools
1 05
Fred Lunn, 30 h
4 50
F. Kenyon, 25 h
3 75
Horses on scraper,25 h 7 50
F. Parker, horses on scra- per, 25 h 7 50
Driving horses on
scraper, 25 h 4 37
M. Southwick, horse on
cart, 86 h 10 75
42
Geo. Gauvin, 60 h $ 9 00
Henry Lambert, 10 h $ 1 50
Joe Gokie, 10 h 1 50
Geo. Seymour, 10 h 1 50
Doc Frank, 8 h 1 20
F. F. Young, 110 loads gravel 5 50
Frank Francis, 40 h 6 00
Henry Jarvis and team, 60 h 21 00
Chas. Bennett and team, 10 h 3 50
Man and team, 60 h
17 50
Palmer Converse, 70 h 14 00
E. Frank, 122 h 1 88
2 horses, 30 h 6 00
Lyman Arnold, 25 h 3 75
1 horse, 40 h 5 00
$268 52
$41 70
Sidewalks.
Charles Scradia, 20 h $3 00
H. C. METCALF, District No. 10.
H. C. Metcalf, 127 h $25 40
Horse and cart, 103 h 12 87
A. L. Metcalf, 113 h 16 95
F. Chappell, 102 h 15 30
G. Maich, 55 h 8 25
F. Smith, 12 h 2 10
A. Brown, 45 h
6 75
G. Pelicy, 30 h 4 50
M. Hathaway, 45 h 6 75
W. R. Wallis, 2 spades 2 00
T. Hutchins, 20 h 3 00
Bush snath 85
C. Bennett, team on scra-
per, 15 h 4 50
Team on scraper, 30 h 6 00
G. Dudley, team on scraper, 15 h $4 50
Team on scraper, 5 h 1 00
Put Dudley, 20 h 3 00
$123 72
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF DOUGLAS
FOR THE
Year Ending March 1, 1909
S
INC
746
RP
WHITINSVILLE, MASS .: PRESS OF EAGLE PRINTING CO. 1909.
2
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
CHARLES BENNETT
Term expires March 1, 1909
GILBERT W. ROWLEY
1909
THOMAS H. MEEK
CHAS. J. BATCHELLER
60
66
1910
WILLIAM L. CHURCH
1910
WILLIE MANAHAN
66
66
1910
EDWARD T. BUXTON
66
66
1911
FRANK E. JONES
66
66
1911
LUCIUS J. MARSH
66
66
66
1911
SUPERINTENDING COMMITTEE
L. J. MARSH EDWARD T. BUXTON G. W. ROWLEY
PURCHASING AGENT
CHARLES J. BATCHELLER
TRUANT OFFICER
A. B. SIMMONS
66
1909
66
3
SCHOOL CALENDAR
1908-09
FALL TERM
All schools opened September 8,1908 and closed December 18.
WINTER TERM
High school opened December 28, 1908. Elementary schools opened January 4, 1909. All schools close March 19.
SPRING TERM, RECOMMENDED
High school opens March 29 and closes June 25. Elementary schools open April 5 and close June 11.
LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR
Elementary schools 36 weeks. High school 40 weeks.
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
Three blasts of the whistle at 7.45 a. m. indicate "no school" for the morning session.
Three blasts of the whistle at 11.15 a. m. indicate "no school" for the afternoon session.
4
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
APPROPRIATIONS AND RECEIPTS.
Appropriations for public schools includ-
ing transportation of pupils . $5,500 00
Books and supplies 350 00
For superintendent. 360 00
For school physician
50 00
For repair of school houses 200 00
Town school fund. 56 48
State School fund
868 81
State, for high school "special"
500 00
State, for superintendent
500 00
For tuition .
34 00
Balance unexpended last year
517 70
$8,936 99
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers
$4,694 25
Janitors
615 85
Superintendent
660 00
Transportation
408 50
Fuel
707 14
5
Books and supplies appropriation $350 00
Balance from last year ... 5 98
State school fund . 88 21
$444 19
Expended $444 19
Repairs
239 33
General expenses
198 08
School Physician
50 00
$8,017 34
Balance unexpended .
$919 65
LUCIUS J. MARSH, EDWARD T. BUXTON, GILBERT W. ROWLEY.
6
Superintendent's Report.
To the School Committee of Douglas.
GENTLEMEN :- I cannot better preface this my first report as superintendent of your schools than by expressing my appreciation of the progressive attitude of both you and the townspeople as a whole toward them. On every hand there is found a disposition to co-operate and make the schools as good as possible, and as a result of this disposition manifesting itself in the past as well as at present, I do not think it too much to say that, size and means considered, the Town of Douglas has schools, both as to equipment and as to excellence in the kind of work done, in which it may justly take some little degree of pride. They are however, still far from being as good as they might be. To make them more nearly such is the task that confronts us.
ENROLMENT.
The total enrolment of the ten schools of the town for the year ending last June was 385, which compared with that of the preceding year, 359, shows a net gain of 26. The enrolment at the presant time is 325, 23 greater than the average membership for last year. These figures seem to indicate a tendency toward increase in the number of school children to be provided for.
7
ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY.
One of the surest signs of a good school system is regular and punctual attendance. The per cent. of attendance for last year, according to the registers was 92, and for the four school months ending Jan. 16 of this year, slightly over 90. This means that on an average one-tenth of the pupils have been out of school all the time. While there has been perhaps an unusual amount of sick- ness, much of the absence has been without doubt unnecessary.
The average number of tardinesses per pupil last year was 2.15.
This number as well as the number of absences is larger than it should be. Special efforts, therefore, are being put forth to im- prove both the attendance and punctuality. One of the means used is the monthly attendance bulletins sent around to each school to be hung upon the wall. These bulletins show in large figures the per cent. obtained by the school, its resulting rank in building, town and district, and the number of tardinesses and unnecessary absences. The rank of the several schools in attendance and punctuality for last year may be seen from an examination of Table B.
COURSE OF STUDY FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
The course of study has been in use for several years and needs revision to fit conditions favoring promotion directly from the 8th grade to the high school. In making the revision, it seems to me that it would be desirable to arrange for longer and more thorough reviews at the end of the year, particularly in the subjects of Language, Grammar and Arithmetic. If this were done it would be much easier for well qualified pupils to obtain double promotion without leaving any important work undone, as such pupils might readily omit the review work of their own grade and take that of the grade ahead of them. Such a plan it seems to me would serve to make the system much more elastic, making it easier for pupils to pass along according to their fitness to do so, and result in a better grading of the schools and consequent better work all around.
8
TEACHERS.
Good teachers are necessary in order to have good schools, and good salaries are necessary in order to have good teachers, ex- cepting in those few instances where towns take advantage of local teachers of worth and experience to hire them for less than their services would command elsewhere. I am pleased therefore to note that the attitude of the town toward its teachers is becoming more liberal and that the recommendation of the superintendent last year that a higher maximum be paid, especially to the grade teachers, was acted upon favorably. It has served so far only to do justice to several experienced and efficient local teachers, but its fruit should be apparent later in making the teaching force as a whole more efficient and permanent and in making it possible to fill vacancies to much better advantage. We cannot have too good teachers, and using the same degree of judgment, the more we pay, the better teachers we shall have. The town should make an effort to pay at least the average wage paid elsewhere.
HIGH SCHOOL.
At the beginning of the fall term a new course of study, follow- ing very closely one already suggested to the committee by State Agent J. W. MacDonald, was carefully prepared, and by taking the entire time of the school assistant, put into immediate operation; and it is belived that as a result. the work of the school is now fairly well standardized, all the usual high school courses being offered and an opportunity afforded students who are willing to ap- ply themselves, to prepare for advanced institutions. The school needs building up in science work, however, and this can only be done by providing laboratory facilities and apparatus. Convenient floor space has been provided through the courteous changing about of their rooms by several of the teachers so as to allow the high school to have the room immediately adjacent to it. A part of this room will, of course, be used for recitation purposes, but the remaining part should be screened off, and provided with table and as means allow, with laboratory equipment. At the present time
9
chemical apparatus and supplies are especially needed to enable the large class in chemistry under the direction of the principal to act- ually perform the experiments themselves. Strong work in sci ence can be done even in the small high school, and the present principal is well qualified and interested to do it, but it cannot be done systematically and to good advantage with the present equip- ment.
HIGH SCHOOL COURSE OF STUDY.
NOTE. The first figure means the number of recitations per week, the number following the + hours of individual work to be reported upon to the teacher, and occasionally subjected to examin- ation. The next figure indicates the number of diploma credits allowed.
FIRST YEAR.
Algebra 4 4
Science 3 3
American Lit. . 2 2
Composition . 1
1
Latin
.4 4
Ancient History 3
3
Commercial Paper, Arithmetic and Penmanship may be taken instead of the Latin, and count the same.
SECOND YEAR.
English History and Literature 3+ 1 4
Oral Reading 1
1
Composition and Grammar 1
1 Geometry
4 4
Science, Physiology and Botany . .3+1 4
Latin 3+2 3.5
Single Entry Bookkeeping may be taken instead of Latin, 2 periods of recitation and 2 of outside work and count the same.
IO
THIRD YEAR
U. S. History and Literature 3+1 4
English Literature. 2
2
Composition and Rhetoric .1+1 1,2
Latin 3+2 3, 5
French 3 + 1 4
Astronomy and Physical Geography 3
3
Instead of Latin, Commercial Arithmetic or Typewriting may be taken for 3 periods per week.
FOURTH YEAR.
English Literature 2+ 1 3
Civil Government and Political Economy .. 2 2
Composition and Rhetoric . 1
1
Latin 3+2 3, 5
French .3+2
3, 5
Review Mathematics 3+1 4
Instead of Latin advanced Bookkeeping and Commercial Law may be taken and count the same.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Given good teachers and a good course of study, but one es_ sential remains in order to have a good high school; namely, well prepared grammar pupils. The entering class in the fall was by no means such, and it has been very difficult for the teachers to make the progress with them that should be made with the first year class. Special efforts are being put forth, however, to get the present 8th grade into condition to enter the high school better prepared next year, and it is believed with some success. If we de- sire to have a strong high school, however, it is doubtful if it will be advisable to pass the 8th grade as a whole into the high school, as a number of them will be too immature and poorly prepared even at the best that we can hope, to make it possible for the class as a whole to do good work. These pupils should be requir-
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ed to take the ninth grade work as formerly for their presence in the high school would mean a drawback to the others and of but little profit, if not a positive injury to themselves, for a poor start in the high school often means poor work all the way through.
SUPPLIES.
The providing of the high school with the books necessary in order to carry out the new course of study made a big draft upon the appropriation for books and supplies and has made it necessary during the last part of the year to get along without some things that were very much needed in certain of the schools. As a result of this, moreover, the stock of supplies is reduced to almost noth- ing. It is very desirable, therefore, that a better provision for books and supplies be made this year, particularly as it will be nec- essary to provide the High School with a number of new books in the fall, and some provision should be made for work in raphia, reed, sewing and other lines of manual work, the materials for which, while not expensive, do involve some little outlay.
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